(19)

(11)

EP 1 406 689 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 03.04.2003 (43) Date of publication: 14.04.2004 Bulletin 2004/16 (21) Application number: 02742422.5 (22) Date of filing: 18.07.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61M 25/00, A61F 2/01 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/023201 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/008030 (30.01.2003 Gazette 2003/05)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 18.07.2001 US 306178 P 16.07.2002 US 198261 (71) Applicant: Atritech, Inc. Plymouth, MN 55447 (US)	(72) Inventor: WELCH, Jeffrey New Hope, MN 55428 (US) (74) Representative: VOSSIUS & PARTNER  Siebertstrasse 4 81675 München 81675 München (DE)